Cody Lambert

Cody Lambert (born December 2, 1961, in Artesia, New Mexico)^[1] is an American former professional rodeo cowboy. He specialized in saddle bronc riding and bull riding.^[2] He was also a co-founder and vice president of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR).^[3] He created the protective vest that professional bull riders have been required to wear for many years, after witnessing the death of his friend, Lane Frost at the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on July 30, 1989.^[4] Since 2022, Lambert has been the head coach of the Texas Rattlers during the PBR Teams Series season.

In 2023, Lambert was ranked No. 19 on the list of the top 30 bull riders in PBR history.^[5]

Early and personal life

Cody Lambert is the son of racehorse trainer Cliff Lambert, who was the first jockey to win the All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs aboard Galobar in 1959.^[6] Cody has three siblings, brothers Chuck and Casey Lambert, the latter a successful racehorse jockey, and sister Cheyann.^[7] Cody lives in Bowie, Texas, on a ranch with his wife, Leanne, and their horses and dogs.^[8]

Contestant career

Cody Lambert, Lane Frost, Ty Murray, Jim Sharp, and Tuff Hedeman frequently rode the rodeo circuit together and were known as the "Wolfpack" during that time.^[9]

Lambert won the PBR's inaugural event, the Tuff Hedeman Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1993; it was the PBR's only event that year. He officially retired from bull riding at the end of the 1996 PBR World Finals. While an active rider and also when retired, he served as the PBR’s vice president. When retired as a contestant, he also served as a PBR bull riding judge, and as the PBR’s livestock director.^[10]

Lambert qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 10 times - seven in bull riding (1985-86, 1988-89, 1991-93) and three in saddle bronc (1981, 1990-91), and also qualified for the PBR World Finals three times (1994-96). 1991 was the only year in which he qualified for the NFR in two events simultaneously.

Coaching career

In 2022, after retiring as the PBR's Director of Livestock at the conclusion of that year's PBR World Finals in May, Lambert became the head coach of the Texas Rattlers; one of eight bull riding teams of the PBR's Teams Series, which debuted that year.^[11] In late September 2022, the Texas Rattlers won the event at Thunder Days in Ridgedale, Missouri; the hometown event of rival team, the Missouri Thunder.^[12] Two weeks later, the Rattlers won their own hometown event at Rattler Days in Fort Worth, Texas.^[13] The very next weekend, the Rattlers won their third event in a row at Ridge Rider Days in Glendale, Arizona; the hometown event of rival team, the Arizona Ridge Riders.^[14] The Rattlers ended up finishing in third place at the conclusion of the inaugural PBR Teams Series season.^[15]

In September 2023, the Rattlers won Thunder Days for the second year in a row.^[16] Later in early October of that year, the Rattlers won their own hometown event at Rattler Days for the second year in a row as well.^[17] In late October of that year, the Rattlers were in third place heading into the PBR Teams Series finals event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Nevada. After two days, they succeeded in making it to the final round against the Teams Series leaders, the Austin Gamblers. The Rattlers ended up defeating the Gamblers to win the second annual PBR Teams Series championship.^[18]

Honors

• In 1996, Lambert was one of the inaugural inductees into the PBR Ring of Honor.^[19]
• In 2002, he was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.^[20] Inducted for his rodeo accomplishments, the museum features many of Lambert's personal items used during his rodeo career.^{[citation needed]}
• In 2012, he was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.^[21]
• In 2020, he was inducted into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum's Rodeo Hall of Fame.^[22]
• In 2023, he was inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame.^[23]
• Also in 2023, he was ranked No. 19 on the list of the top 30 bull riders in PBR history.^[5]

In media

Lambert's name ended up being used as the character name for Sasha Mitchell's character on the television show Step By Step.^[24]

In the Lane Frost biographical drama, 8 Seconds (1994), Lambert was portrayed by Red Mitchell.^[25]

References

1. "Cody Lambert". National Western Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
2. "Heroes & Legends: Cody Lambert". Professional Bull Riders. www.pbr.com. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
3. "Ring of Honor: Cody Lambert". Professional Bull Riders. www.pbr.com. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
4. . Lanefrost.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
5. "PBR Top 30". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
6. Herrera, Peter. (PDF). New Mexico Horse Breeder. files.speedhorse.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
7. Herrera, Peter. (PDF). New Mexico Horse Breeder. files.speedhorse.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
8. "Cody Lambert". Horses, Cows, and a Little Bull. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
9. "Ted Kimzey – the Original "Wolfpack" Knew How to Have Fun |". Wrangler Network. July 26, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
10. "Lambert to Retire Following 2022 PBR Canada National Finals - News". Wrangler Network. November 11, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
11. "Cody Lambert to Head Coach the Texas Rattlers". Professional Bull Riders. January 7, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
12. "Texas Rattlers win 2022 Thunder Days". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
13. "Texas Rattlers win hometown event". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
14. "Texas Rattlers win 2022 Ridge Rider Days". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
15. "Rattlers Look to Build on Third-Place Finish, Continue Developing Talent Ahead of Year Two - PBR Blog". Wrangler Network. November 7, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
16. "Texas Rattlers win Thunder Days for second year in a row". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
17. "Texas Rattlers win Rattler Days for second year in a row". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
18. "Texas Rattlers win 2023 PBR Teams Series championship". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
19. "PBR Ring of Honor". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
20. "Cody Lambert". Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. November 20, 2000. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
21. "Inductees: L". Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
22. "Cody Lambert - National Rodeo Hall of Fame". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
23. "Cody Lambert". The Bull Riding Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
24. "Step By Step Cast: Where They Are Now and Who Passed Away". MovieWeb. April 26, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
25. Avildsen, John G. (February 25, 1994). "8 Seconds". IMDb. Retrieved April 18, 2017.